Man charged with sexual assault of child

Published: Wednesday, August 28, 2013 at 2:00 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, August 28, 2013 at 2:00 p.m.

DUNNELLON - An 18-year-old man accused of abusing a 4-year-old girl was taken into custody Tuesday.

According to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, they had a warrant for the arrest of Austin Dakota Freeman for sexual assault and lewd and lascivious behavior on a child younger than 12. Freeman was found hiding in a neighbor’s barn in Dunnellon and was arrested and taken to the Marion County Jail.

The investigation began Aug. 19, after deputies received a report that Freeman molested the girl in a parking lot in June. The girl told officials what happened and her mother told Detective Ollue Myers a similar story. The warrant was then issued for Freeman’s arrest.

<p>DUNNELLON - An 18-year-old man accused of abusing a 4-year-old girl was taken into custody Tuesday.</p><p>According to the Marion County Sheriff's Office, they had a warrant for the arrest of Austin Dakota Freeman for sexual assault and lewd and lascivious behavior on a child younger than 12. Freeman was found hiding in a neighbor's barn in Dunnellon and was arrested and taken to the Marion County Jail.</p><p>The investigation began Aug. 19, after deputies received a report that Freeman molested the girl in a parking lot in June. The girl told officials what happened and her mother told Detective Ollue Myers a similar story. The warrant was then issued for Freeman's arrest.</p><p><i>- Austin L. Miller</i></p>